Y’all, believe it or not, Thanksgiving is just around the corner…and it’s not too soon to begin your planning to avoid last-minute manic panic…might I recommend this amazing article in the November 2011 issue of Essence magazine? Yes, considering I styled AND am giving style tips in it, I just might! Get yourselves a copy & get ready for yummy, y’all:

Y’all, I love using unexpected materials for projects…the other day while prepping for a shoot I was style-slapped when I came across these giant spools of baker’s twine at NY Cake!

As the Twine Turns...

Baker’s twine has such a cool, graphic quality about it. Love it paired with plain craft paper as ribbon for gift wrapping, like these two from Whisker Graphics that feature Air Mail twine, oh!

Just add twine & tie!

Twine tassel topper!

Or try using twine to tie ornaments on the tree. Thread some through small vintage ornaments and tie around the top of your glass jars from the recycling bin and you’ve got double the style value with some easy holiday vases! (forgive my holiday-centric ideas, but have already worked on three different holiday stories recently, so they’re fresh in my head) And take yourselves there by using colors other than the traditional red & white: charcoal grey (super chic!!!), orange, yellow, even turquoise—what?! These fun colors can work for any holidays or other festive occasions throughout the year.

Colorful style to tie on, y'all!

The larger spools at NY Cake are just $17.99 for what appears to be like a million yards of twine & the smaller spools, $15.99. NY Cake also has a west coast location in L.A. (10665 W Pico Blvd), but y’all can also get your twine online from The Twinery (check out their fun blog too!) and Whisker Graphics Now go tie some on, y’all!

Y’all, I got a cool opportunity this past week to do some crafting goodness for a Family Fun magazine Halloween segment on the Regis & Kelly Show! The crafts were super-cute and for the most part, super-easy! (Big southern shout-out to Dyl who sacrificed most of his weekend and several hours of sleep to help—Yeehaw, Dyl! You took us there!) The segment aired on Wed 10/27 and went really well. Y’all can watch it live right here. Once you click the link, you’ll have to click on Videos and then scroll down to the “Pumpkin Alternatives” video. Enjoy! Now, I’m no stranger to being on a set, but live shows are an entirely different beast! Pun intended- Happy Halloween, Y’all!!! Scary! (more…)

Hey y’all, Let the crafting (& blogging) begin! With the launch of the new Holiday Decorating Webisodes on RealSimple.com, I feel that now is as good a time as any to start my blog. I’ve been wanting to fulfill my destiny by way of a blog for quite some time, but I just never felt that I had anything that was earth shattering enough to share. And being a performer at heart, EVERTYHING I do MUST…be…earth shattering (cue fog machine)! But, I’ve come to understand through much encouragement from friends (some who blog, others who wish they did), that blogs don’t have to be, and often aren’t, earth shattering and sadly, often NEVER involve fog! They can be whatever you want them to be. So, above anything, I want mine to be purposeful to those who read it… I want you to be inspired, informed, maybe a little jarred, and most of all ENTERTAINED… (more…)